CocoLion

The biggest change in my dressing for S/S 2016 has been embracing slipper flats/mules.  Finally I get to wear loafers!  Normal loafers fall off my feet.  Mules do too but it is intentional and my wide feet fill out the front while I don't have to make any allowances for my super narrow heels.

My "trick" for wearing flats is keep the look as monotone as possible to create length.  

I'm not going to partake in the off-the-shoulder top trend, but I love the look of all of the lace-up tops out there.   What about you, do you like lace-up tops?

Mules from Intentionally Blank (or Intentionally ___________).  

http://www.intentionallyblank......lack-suede

Bobeau lace-up top.  Sold out, I actually like my cheap under $30 version better than this one from Equipment.  Aspirational Chloe version included for reference. 

Thanks for looking. My trusty Canon Power Shot broke (so sad).  The WIW picture was taken with my phone, using the timer and propping it up against books.  That is another reason you haven't seen much of me lately.

For those who are curious, Maggie is doing much better.  She is on a permanent regime of NSAIDs for arthritis and pain meds but can take short walks again.  She's not as eager to hop in the car though.

Bonus pictures of the neighbors' goat who had a baby a few days ago!

Here's my version of the Spring tweed jacket.  I've had this IRO jacket for 3 years, and pull it out every Spring.  This year, I spilled a huge amount of coffee on the left side.  The dry cleaner was not able to get it all out, and there are three (not terribly dramatic) stains on the front.  I kind of feel like I ruined this jacket due to my morning caffeine addiction.  So now I need a new one right?  The first one is fairly close except they've cropped the style a bit.

Jacket:  IRO (similar one in Finds)
Jeans:  Rag & Bone
Booties:  Acne
Blouse:  Ro & De (a Rack brand).

The blouse cuts in to call direct attention to my big & curvy upper thighs.  I'm stuck between hate and embrace on this top due to what it does for my thighs...

Thanks for looking!

I'm so excited to have, sometime since January 1, hit the 5 year mark on YLF!  I have heaps of gratitude for Angie & Greg, Inge, and the entire YouLookFab community.  This place has brought me so much happiness, all based on sharing a love of fashion.  I want to make a special shout-out to Kari, Annagybe, Aida, Joy, Shevia, Vix & Debbie who inspired me when I joined.  To Janet, Suz, MsMary, Alaskagirl, Ornella, Deborah & Adelfa I want to say I've felt a sisterhood with you these past 5 years, as we all started around the same time (give or take) and you have remained constant on the forum.  Thank you for humbly and enthusiastically traveling this path with me.  I know I have forgotten some names here, please feel free to point out my error!

Meanwhile -- there are clothes to think about!  My Mother is taking me and my boyfriend Dan on a cruise.  This time the three of us are going to Mexico, to celebrate his birthday.  

The itinerary calls for the following:
- 2 Formal Nights 
- 8 Smart Casual Nights
- 5 days at sea
- 4 ports of call/shore days (75-82 F)
- 1 travel day

I am not a light packer.  I fully intend to use this as an opportunity to wear my clothes, something I cannot always do given I live on a ranch (if you're Angie you call it a farm.  Love you Angie).

Herewith, my planned outfits:
Picture 1 -- My one and only formal dress.  This is from Ralph Lauren.
Picture 2 -- Potential second formal outfit.  I really don't have a proper second formal dress, but decided these Rick Owens pieces would work.  Either with tunic dress and long shrimp skirt or ..
Pictures 3/4 -- Other potential formal night's outfit.  Looking kind of busy so preferring #2, what do you think?
Picture 5 -- Smart Casual night/dinner outfit.  A Vince printed silk dress.  Nice quality but just kind of ok on me... cut and color not exactly a 10 on me.
Picture 6 -- Smart casual night.  Another Vince shift dress, like this one much more.
Picture 7 -- More smart casual.  An Eileen Fisher tunic and Rick Owens skirt.  This needs a pendant.  I like the color of the tunic.
Picture 8 -- Smart casual.  A repeat from 2015.  Zara sequin jacket, Vince leather pants.
Picture 9 -- Casual, probably at sea.
Picture 10 -- Casual appropriate for a shore day I think.  Repeat from 2015.
Picture 11 -- My latest addition to the Rick Owens capsule in "Dark Dust", love this dress for cooler nights.
Picture 12 -- Really into this mint bag and mint sandals, combined with navy, for a smart casual day outfit.
Picture 13 -- Sporty luxe smart casual day outfit.
Picture 14 -- Is this a cliche tropical Gringo outfit?  I think the pants are kind of unflattering, but they are lightweight.  Wild pants are an impulse purchase from the sale rack at TJ Maxx.

Any advice or tips on these outfits welcome! Plus thoughts on traveling the "Mexican Riviera" are wanted.  Hoping my Lonely Planet guidebook arrives by Friday.

Please do weigh in on #2 vs. 3/4 as the second formal night outfit.

I've posted some of these pictures in various threads already.  But here, all in one place.

1.  Vince dress worn to MIL 80th birthday on the Coast.  I wanted to wear outfit #2, but forgot to bring the skirt!  I put this Vince dress in my garment bag at the last minute as a back up, in case the Rick Owens ensemble was too much.  The dress looks better without a camisole but I'm very glad I wore one, I would have been flashing all night!

3.  An opportunity to wear long jeans in Summer, thanks to another quick trip to SF.  Lands End Tee, Marc Jacobs wristlet, Rag & Bone jeans, Steve Madden slip ons.

4.  Worn to a baby shower.  Dress is DKNY Pure.

5.  Worn to a family dinner.  

6.  Just a casual outfit, but I wanted to recommend this top from Kohl's.  It is just like a Rails top but at a fraction of the price.  Nice soft rayon, hangs well.  This is the size S, I"m not sure if it will shrink though.

7. OK outfit but something seems off.  I decided to get rid of the cap sleeve tee even though I love the color.  The shorts don't do much for me either, kind of frumpy from Kohl's too.

8.  The Mom jeans.  Robbie dog in the background.

9.  Outfit fail.  James Crop jeans from Paige are unflattering as is this knit top (love the color though -- can you see a theme here?).  Everything just makes me look big and tired.  The flash photography is not helping either.

Thanks for looking and if you have any thoughts on the failed outfits let me know!

Three birds with one stone here.

Picture 1 - First, a K/R.  I purchased these Okalas recently at TJ Maxx.  They are a deep chocolate brown, and they were $60.  I was in the store getting a fathers day gift when I saw them.  I got them specifically to wear with this Rick Owens pod skirt (I also have a jacket and long skirt in the same color way called "Dark Dust").  It is a brownish-grayish-greenish neutral color that I felt was more flattering on me than black.  The problem is, it's a challenging color to work with as it's not a currently trendy color.  What do you think, do they work or should I keep looking?

Picture 2 -- Actual outfit worn to fathers day brunch.  Helmut Lang top from 2012, above RO skirt via MyHabit.com, Sam Edelman sandals from last year.

Picture 3 -- Worn on one of the last cooler days of Spring.  Top from the Rack from 2011, Rag & Bone jeans from 2013, sandals are new but already quite trashed as they were $13 at Ross.  I love them, they're from Sbicca and I can't find a replacement anywhere!

Picture 4 -- More recent picture reflecting hot weather with happily age inappropriate outfit.  Shorts are Genetic, a hand-me-down from one of my sister's clients.  Blouse is from Kohl's Milly collection.  Skull clutch is from Shopbop and getting lots of wear.  No one coughed behind my back in these shorts while I was shopping for black work pants.

PSA -- Shopbop currently has a 25% extra off sale coupon.  Code 25MORE.  Expires tomorrow.

Thanks for looking and let me know if you think I should keep the Okalas, or keep looking for a better match with this custom color "Dark Dust."

This is a very typical CocoLion outfit.  I cleaned the garage in it earlier (true).  The genius of denim is that you can just brush off the dirt and it looks even better, more authentic.

There is one new item here, can you guess what it is?  [Cue Jeopardy music in the background to help you think...]

Zara sequin and leather jackets are both from 2012, Chaser graphic tee from 2013, Freebird oxfords from 2013, handmade belt from 2008, jeans are a 2014 duplicate purchase of a 2013 item -- Rag & Bone skinny in Kensington wash.  (I have this jean in 2 sizes to accommodate weight changes.)

It's the watch!  It was a birthday present from Mr. CocoLion.

So, which jacket should I wear?  The sequin (1) or the biker jacket (2)?  Picture 3 shows a view of the hand-made belt from LA designer Kim White.  (As well as my beloved Roomba in action.  I hate to clean.)

If you can't see the pictures, click over to my lookfab blog where the pictures are visible!

1 -- I wore this to take my Mom to cataract surgery.  Yes that qualifies as an occasion to make some effort with my appearance.  ;-)  

2/3 -- Today, no special occasion other than nice Spring weather.  Open knit sweater from Vince via eBay.  #3 shows the sweater semi-tucked but I prefer it untucked.  Note the location of this photo -- it used to look completely different (see picture 4).

4 -- Picture from 2013, this shows the same location as #3 before numerous trees came down, due to a combination of draught as well as bark beetle infestations.  I'm quite sad about it, as it was also a favorite  place where CocoLion, RIP, would join me in a photo shoot.

Rather than giving detailed clothing descriptions, I'm trying to provide everything as a find.  It was fun trying out the new custom finds feature.

The Steve Madden Buhba slip ons are not quite as comfy as the Van's, but they are close.  They're also newer and I'm still breaking them in.  I do recommend them.

Thanks for looking and commenting, dear friends!

I decided to keep these pants even though I had my doubts and they didn't gain 100% forum approval.  I wore this outfit to a poetry slam, it was fun and the poets were skilled and moving (a friend of mine competed so I was there to support him).

Picture 1 - What I wore
Picture 2 - Almost wore, shoes were too dressy

I am happy I decided to keep these wildcard pants, although my boyfriend received them only with tentative, diplomatic approval.  (What do men know.  Of course he prefers fitted bottoms on me.)  They are comfortable and luxurious at the same time, and breath well.  I also realized that with heels and another top, perhaps a silk shell, these will work for my dressier occasions like the ballet or some opera performances.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

I ordered these during Shopbop's Friends & Family Sale (expires tonight at midnight PST).  Code is SPRING25.  I love them!  I was worried they'd be too narrow as the last pair of LDT's were.  But these are perfect, and fit me just as others have.  I'm quite sure I'm keeping them, but if you see something I don't, let me know. 

Shown longer (1), ankle length cuffed (2), and from the back (3).

So am I right, are these keepers?

If there is a uniform I feel most at home in, it would be this.  Jeans, a structured, tailored blazer, a worn-in tee, booties and jewelry which has sentimental value.  This tee shirt is actually my boyfriend's.  I got it around 3 years ago at Banana Republic for him.  It may have been dark green or black.  As it wore out and faded, my boyfriend made it a construction worker and tile setter tee.  So the distressing is 100% authentic here.  :-)

Inspiration pics are 3 through 5.  As you can see a sharp-shouldered blazer is a key element.  Robbie Robertson of The Band in #3.  Bob Dylan in #4.  Patti Smith in #5.  Also here is my Rock Style Inspiration pin board which is very early-70s influenced.

I hope I am not insulting anyone with the cross necklace.  I got it in London many years ago, it's a copy of a Victorian rosary.  I'm not Catholic but do have a great uncle who was a Priest.  :-)

Thanks for looking and commenting!